“Byzantium in Kingston” exhibition and lecture

The traditional practice of making images of Holy figures, Martyrs and Saints, and celebrated feast days goes back to before emperor Constantine’s Eastern Roman Empire and is still practiced today by modern day iconographers. This September, “The Lace Mill Arts” Gallery presents the “Byzantium in Kingston”
exhibition of icons and mosaics of the Eastern Orthodox faith from 3 regional master iconographers, Miltiadis Afentoulis; Marianna Afentouli; and the late Anna Contes Maguire, coupled with a scheduled lecture by Dr. Despina Afentouli in The Lace Mill West Gallery.

Born in Athens, Greece, Miltiadis Afentoulis (www.afentoulis.com) was introduced to Byzantine ιconography by his father, an established Byzantine Iconographer from Constantinople, Vasileios J. Afentoulis. As an apprentice to his father, Militiadis learned the Byzantine rules of icon draftsmanship, portable icon painting and wall painting, and gold leafing. This is a practice Miltiadis developed into his
own style and decorated over fifty churches in Greece and the United States to which he carries on to this day. Miltiadis is a member of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece.

Continuing with the family legacy, daughter Marianna Afentouli (www.afentouli.info) is a Byzantine Mosaic Iconographer of portable icons and wall-paintings in her own right and her artworks include mosaics, stained-glass, and sculpture. Marianna is a graduate from the Preparatory and Professional
School of Fine Arts Panormou-Tinos, Greece, as well as from the Sivitanidios Public School of Trade and Vocations, Athens, Greece. Apart from participating in group fine arts exhibitions, Marianna has presented two solo fine arts exhibitions in New York.

Αlso featured are the icons of the late contemporary artist, Anna Contes Maguire. An Iconographer since her youth, Anna graduated from Pratt Institute where she studied modern painting. Although well known for her contemporary paintings, she continued to paint icons in the traditional method throughout her life for churches and private collectors.

The exhibit is accompanied with the lecture, “The Timeless Contribution of Byzantine Art” by Journalist – Sociologist, Dr. Despina Afentouli (www.afentouli.com). Dr. Afentouli, a postdoc researcher with professional work experience in media, academia and public sector worldwide, has participated as a speaker, co-ordinator and organizer of educational seminars and cultural events. Dr. Afentouli is a member of the International Federation of Journalists and represents the National Writers Union at the US Women’s Caucus and the Ecumenical Federation of Constantinopolitans at the United Nations.

Exhibition details:
• Opening reception: September 7th, 2024 between 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Duration of “Byzantium in Kingston” exhibition: Between September 7th to 29th, 2024
• Gallery hours after the Opening: Weekends from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.


• ArtWalk: September 21st and 22nd between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.


• Location: At The Lace Mill Gallery located at 165 Cornell Street in Kingston, NY 12401
Lecture details:
• Date and time: 1:00 p.m. on Saturday September 14, 2024.
• Location: At The Lace Mill Gallery located at 165 Cornell Street in Kingston, NY 12401